Moving From Tube to Oral Feeding in Medically Fragile Nonverbal Toddlers

• DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0b013e31819b5db9
• Publication Date: 2009-07-16T07:21:05Z
• Authors: Ann McGrath Davis; Amanda Schurle Bruce; Cathy Mangiaracina; Trina Schulz; Paul Hyman
• Keywords: Gastrostomy; Analgesics; Critical Care; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; Appetite Regulation; Appetite Stimulants; Child Behavior; Infant; Feeding Behavior; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; 3. Good health; Eating; 03 medical and health sciences; Child Development; Enteral Nutrition; 0302 clinical medicine; Clinical Protocols; Child, Preschool; Humans; Female; Amines; Gabapentin; Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood

ABSTRACTThe current article describes a 14‐week outpatient protocol for transitioning from gastrostomy tube to oral feeding in toddlers with medical complications. The team ensured that eating skills were mastered before treating patients for 8 weeks with continuous gastrojejunal drip tube feedings and low‐dose tricyclic antidepressant and/or gabapentin. We prescribed 6 weeks of megestrol for hunger provocation while withdrawing tube feedings. A chart review after treatment demonstrated 9 subjects were eating exclusively orally and 1 was eating 50% orally.